China and the Central African Republic

chief(prenominal)(prenominal)land chinaw be and the implicit in(p) African body politicI-Introduction exchange African state is a inland democracy environ in the south by the Democratic democracy of the Congo and the nation of the Congo, in the north by Chad, Sudan in the east and Cameroon in the west. It gained its freedom in August 13th 1960 and roof of primal Africa is the capital. The two official langu eons be French and Sango. Francois is Yangonvouda-Bozize current the pre casent took the power during a takeover in March 2003 The Economist US (2005).Since its independence, the Central African state has been destabilized and advertize impoverished due to a cycle of political-military uprisings and violence HAC, (2011) UNICEF, (2008) The Economist, (2008). Constitutional severalise was restored in 2005UNICEF, (2008) however, the overall situation until now in the country remains volatilisable, marked by tensions among and within political parties, a precario us socio- frugal situation, deteriorating human-centred conditions and in protection in the north of the country due to activities of rebel and whitlow groups UNICEF, (2008).The United Nations implemented a Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), in an attempt to promote peace and stability in the country and reduce cross-b drift in earnest UNICEF, (2008) This was carried out to encourage national talks and reconciliation and butmore to help the Central African Republic reenact military reforms, implement human rights policies, train civilian police, and disarm, demobilize and incorporate former fighters. Besides that, the railcar is surrounded by countries alike(p) Chad, Sudan and DRC, which shoot been destabilized for a long metre by civil wars. These lead umpteen refugees to seek for shelter in railcar The Economist, (2005).All those characteristics create a volatile political situation and an uncertain climate for contrary investment.The railr oad car is unsaved with m some(prenominal) natural resources such as diamonds, baseball bat, uranium, oil, iron, gold and hydropower Africa.com, (2008). except, it is still rated among the poorest countries in the world. Its economy is disadvantaged due to its landlocked position, which isolates it from foreign suppliers and markets and contributes to high mo prices. It has the potential to become a major pastoral product exporter. It to a fault has hydroelectric potential that could be developed for export to neighboring countries that gestate power shortages.The dealings between china and the auto have evolved cut tooth since the early 60s. On several occasions, the CAR st cardinal-broke and re-established its ties with the People Republic of mainland mainland China.Since the arrival in power of President Bozize, it seems that the CAR and China are enjoying steady and smooth dealings. Yet the country is still facing to challenges regarding to its socio- economical sit uation. zip is so practically said nor written around China and the Central African Republic. What is rightfully going on between the two countries? China has invested in it, peculiarly in basis of infrastructure. Does the government gain from it? What about the macrocosm? Is CAR really benefited from that relation? In what extent China can help the CAR to come out from the cycle of pauperization?II-Central African Republic (C.A.R)2.1Facts and figuresAccording to the United Nations piece Development Index, the CAR now ranks 172 out of 177 least developed countries in the world UNDP,(2006). Two-thirds of the population live under the line of distress, slight than half are literate, and the ordinary life expectancy hovers around 40 course of instructions, resulting in a genuinely young population with almost fifty percent under the age of 18, and only four percent aged 60 and overUNDP, (2006). The CAR is really affected by AIDS that is wherefore the life expectancy is e verlastingly falling and dropped below 40 according to the UNDP Report on human Development 2006. Per capita income is USD 456.POPULATION4,422,000SIZE622,984 kmCAPITAL CITYBanguiLANGUAGESFrench and Sango (officials languages)TRIBAL LANGUAGESLARGEST CITIESBangui and BimboRELIGION35% Tribal beliefs, 25% Protestant, 25% Catholic, 15% MuslimMONETARY UNITFrancNATURAL RESOURCESDiamonds, uranium, timber, gold, hydropower farmingCotton, coffee, tobacco, cassava, yams, millet, corn, banana timberEXPORT COMMODITIESdiamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobaccoIMPORT COMMODITIESfood, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, galvanizing equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticalsINDUSTRYGold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles2.2 Political and economic situationsThe CAR is bright with natural resources to use and develop in order to come out of its cycle of poverty. However, three decades of mismanagement, from the 60s when it g ained its independence until 1993 which seen the organization democratic elections for the first time, most of the time under military rule and unmatched decade of chronic unrest and political fights (1993- 2003) lead the country to unsuccessful person International Crisis Group, (2007). Francois Bozize gained the power in March 2003 by a coup and overthrown Ange-Felix Patasse International Crisis Group, (2007). collectible to the chronic instability since 10 years this makes very difficult for CARs governments to revaluation a long term economic development strategy that is why the country is currently facing a lack of modern exile network which represents the chokepoint for the development of its economy. For display case, the length to reach Bangui the capital city is about 12 to 14 days of river transportation CAR, (2009).why is CARs economy always under threat of strangulation? Geographically, the CAR is trap in an unstable triangle and surrounded by the Democratic Repu blic of the Congo, Sudan and Chad that which are destroyed by legion(predicate) years of civil wars IMF, (2010) The Economist, (2008) UNHCR, (2000). furthermore, despatch arrivals are often delayed or cance lead because of rebels attacks HAC, (2011) that are causing so much trouble in the region.The nation of CAR is principally rural International Crisis Group, (2007). In 2003, agriculture accounted for 60.8% of the countrys GDP UNCTAD, (2005) crops primarily including cotton, food crops such as cassava, yams, bananas, maize coffee and tobacco. In 2004, the agricultural labour force accounted for 69% UNCTAD, (2005). The population of CAR is engaged in subsistence farming with 56% attributed to the agricultural sector in 2006. In 2002, timber accounted for about 30% of export earnings. The CAR is blessed with a huge unexploited natural resources in the form of uranium, gold, diamonds and others minerals Investment Climate Report, (1995). In 2010, its main exports were diamonds, c otton, timber, coffee and tobacco. Diamonds are the main natural resources being currently developed Investment Climate Report, (1995) in 2002, the CAR was able to export 50% of its diamonds earnings Crisis Group Africa, (2010).In 2003 and 2006, persistence contributed for respectively 24.9% and 15% for the latter of the countrys GDP breweries, diamond mining and sawmill represent the bulk of the sector. Due to the oversized government bureaucracy and its landlocked position, services accounted only for 29% of GDP in 2006. The same year, its main importer of goods was France and represented for 17.6% and they mainly exports goods toward Belgium (40.4%) Investment Climate Report, (1995) UNCTD. (2005).In 2000, the percentage of population with admission charge to electricity accounted for 5% only UNCTAD, (2005). The CAR really lack of electricity supply. The main and only hydroelectric plants are based in Boali. Mostly, sack supplies are transported in via the Ubangui River or tr ucked through Cameroon, resulting in frequent shortages of gasoline, kelvin fuel and diesel. The countrys transportation and communication network is peculiar(a) it does not sustain a railroad, however it has only 650 kilometers of paved road. It does not possess any domestic air service, except charters, so very trammel internationally. Furthermore, mercenary traffic on the Ubangui River is very rough even impossible from celestial latitude to May or June, due to ongoing conflicts in the region that sometimes prevented shipments from moving between Kinshasa (capital of DRC) and Bangui. The teleph wizard system functions, albeit imperfectly. The CAR possesses only one television station that has been built since the independence, and four radio stationsare currently run in the country. Numerous invigoratedspapers and pamphlets are published on a unceasing basis, and at least one company has begun providing Internet service.In hurt of economic, the C.A.R. has made slow get along its budget and external trade are deficiency due to many constraints like the poor infrastructure that it is facing, economic mismanagement and scarce private investment, as well as a limited tax base and adverse external conditions have led the country to a desperate situation. Its debt burden is considerable, as well as its per capita gross national product (GNP). The World fix and the International financial Fund (IMF) have implemented some structural and interest-free credits as well to support investments in the agriculture, livestock, and transportation sectors, unfortunately these have had limited impact. The World Bank and IMF are now encouraging the government to subdue exclusively on implementing much-needed economic reforms to jumpstart the economy and defining its fundamental priorities with the aim of alleviating poverty. As a result, many of the state-owned business entities have been privatized and limited efforts have been made to standardize and simplify la bor and investment codes and to shroud problems of corruption. The C.A.R. Government has adopted the Central African Economic and Monetary lodge (CEMAC) Charter of Investment, and is in the process of adopting a new labor code. Furthermore the CAR received debt relief in June 2009 by the World Bank and the IMF IMF, (2010).It reached the final completion-point stage of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative IMF, (2010).Since its independence, the CAR has been unstable and endured several coups David Dacko ended the Bokassa era in a coup in 1979 International Crisis Group, (2007). David Dacko was overthrown by a coup led by the normal Andre Kolingba two years later. For the first time, he allowed multi-party presidential elections in 1993 and was get the better of in the first round by his successor Ange-Felix Patasse. However, 1997 the discontent of gratis(predicate) soldiers resulted in a successive wave of strikes and uprisings from the latter International Crisis Grou p, (2007). . The same year the French troop pulled out and Paris financed a group of French-speaking African countries to create a peacekeeping force. This leads to the beingness of the UN Mission to the Central African Republic, or Minurca International Crisis Group, (2008). In 1999 Ange-Felix Patasse won the elections a second time however there were allegations of electoral fraud. He went into exile in Togo by and by being overthrown in a coup in 2003 by customary Bozize the current president of the CAR.The legacy of years of unrest has generated an illegal weapons proliferation crosswise the CAR. Rebels armed groups are active in the volatile north. The unrest has displaced tens of thousands of Central Africans many of them have crossed the border into Chad. Under Bozize era, some progress towards ending the conflict was made in 2008, when peace talks led to an symmetricalness committing two of the main rebel groups to disarm IMF,(2010). The process culminated with the creat ion of a national unity government incorporating two rebel leading in early 2009.2.3 A Modest recoverySince 2004 the Central African Republic has been able to achieve a small-scale economic branch IMF, (2010) firstly, it gained full debt relief from the IMF and the World Bank in June 2009. Secondly it cogitate a current Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility class in June 2010. This successfully led to the achievement of a three-year programme with the IMF especially after the success of the Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance Programs.Furthermore, the CARs government implemented a macroeconomic management policies and necessary structural reforms that led to a modest recovery from the economic shock in 2009. The government worked hard to further strengthen the credibility of public financial management, enhance public infrastructure, and step to the fore foreign donors and the private sector investment climate US department, (2010) as well.Since President Bozize leads the CAR s ome encouraging result has been noticed by the Internationals institutions like IMF or World Bank.The CARs government understood that it was its priority to restore security and peace in the country. The government established what it called the inclusive political discourse that gathered the political opposition and the government together to seek for security and peace for the country. That initiative was successful in the extent that it was part of the demobilization, the disarming and reintegration program which led to the smooth conduct of the elections in 2010 IMF, (2010).In terms of building infrastructure and climate investment the CARs government has a agglomerate to do in order to unlock the countrys economic situation. The government has no other choice than on the one hand relying on foreign partners and on the other hand must engage coherent and miasmal policies over the long term to come out of its cycle of poverty IMF, (2010).III- Chinese engagement with the CAR3. 1- The political relationsAT many occasions the CAR cut off and resumed its diplomatic relations with the chinaware and Taiwan. The diplomatic ties between China and the Central African Republic undergo ups and downs In 1962, the CAR recognized Taiwan as part of Chinas grime and established for the first time diplomatic ties with the island. Two years later, it broke off its diplomatic link with Taiwan and established diplomatic relations with China. The CAR resumed diplomatic ties Taiwan third times.Leaders of both(prenominal) side exchanged high levelcontacts. These underline the importance a state attaches to its relations with another.3.2 Trade and Economic RelationsIn November 2000, China and Central Africa Republic signed an agreement on trade, economic and technical cooperation Chinese inappropriate Ministry, (2006). In August 2004, both countries signed a zygomorphous cooperation agreement in fields such as energy, infrastructure and agricultureHolslag, (2006).Today, Ch ina is an important commercial partner for the CAR.In 2002, trade volume between both nations accounted for US$ 1.944 one million million million with US$ 0.687 stemming from Chinas export and US$ 1.257 million from the Chinas import. The CAR mainly exports timber and cotton to China and imports principally footwear, textiles and electrical and mechanical products from China Chinese Foreign Ministry, (2006).China has been an active investor in the Central African Republic, especially in construction, and has been involved in a number of say cooperative ventures with the government, cover version health, agriculture, stock-breeding, communications and trade .It undertook numerous projects in CAR and built for instance the Boali agricultural technological station, a training center for straw-bamboo weaving handcrafts, the new stadium, a clinic in the presidential house, the Bangui hospital and agricultural project, the lengthiness work of the Pingpo Radio Transmitting Station, and so onChinese Foreign Ministry, (2006).During his visit in China in 2009, President Francois Bozize called on China to invest in its country3.3 Exchanges in other fieldsAfter signing a joint communiqu in August 20th, China and the CAR signed in November 1976 an agreement on sending Chinese medical teams to Central Africa Republic.In June 1980 both countries signed an agreement on cultural cooperation and renewed it in June 1998 timbre for the number of students in China. Since 1997, China has begun to accept Central African students for get a line and on the job training. Today both parties acknowledge the necessity for the CAR to enhance its self-development ability as well as its local Human Resources trainingIV- China- CAR Why the slow progress?One wonders what is calamity in Central African Republic as the country is blessed with natural resources but still ranking as one the poorest in the world. International news portrays it as a phantom state African report, (2007).Since the resuming of bilateral cooperation with China in 1998, the relation is experiencing smoothly and slowly evolution. In 2009, during a high level visit to China President Francois Bozize spoke to his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao and expressly called for Chinese investment in its country BBC, (2009) AFP, (2009) China consulate, (2011). China is now an important economic partner for the CAR BBC, (2009). However in an article published in 2009, the BBC wrote that the CAR is a much less important economic partner to China. Considering that statement one wonders whether China really considers the CAR as a less valuable partner. How the Chinese governments perceive the CAR? How does the CAR perceive the Chinese liaison in the country?The CARs government welcomes the Chinese aid in ache the political instability in the country, especially in the north African Report, (2007).However, China doesnt deter to invest in it by building the new 20.000 seats-stadium, schools, hospitals, etc. R egarding to that assistance, can it be stated that the CAR is a much less valuable for China?The CARs situation is peculiar and really needs from the scholars, journalist, primal African leaders, the civil society, all the stakeholders as well, further attention.